Effectiveness of Mindful Self-Compassion Training Supported by Online Peer Groups in China: A Pilot Study

Self-compassion training involves the cultivation of feelings of warmth and safety, presence, and interconnectedness. Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) training in a group setting has been found to increase self-compassion, mindfulness, and emotional well-being.

The current study intended to examine the outcomes of live, online, videoconference-based MSC training with online peer-support for nonclinical populations in different cities in China.

The research team designed a pre-post pilot study.

The study took place at Renmin University in Beijing, China.

Participants were 253 Chinese individuals who were recruited from different regions in China through online advertisements.

Participants took part in online MSC training in a two-hour, group class each week for eight weeks and received support from online peer groups and through a half-day in-person retreat.

Self-report outcomes were obtained at baseline and postintervention, using the Self Compassion Scale (SCS) and the Compassion for Others Scale (CS) for primary outcomes, and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), the Fear of Compassion Scale (FOCS), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS), and the Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale (CAMS-R), for secondary outcomes. A fixed effects model was used to test for within-group changes in the scales.

The online MSC program yielded a high retention rate. Of the 206 first-time participants, 179 (86.9%) attended six or more of the eight MSC sessions, and 183 (88.8%) completed the assessments at both baseline and postintervention. Of the 183 retained participants, 97.8% were female, with an average age of 37.8 ± 7.9; 94% had college or higher education. For all scales, the within-person changes occurred in the expected direction; positive attributes and experiences increased, while negative attributes and experiences decreased.

The study showed that first-time participants in China in an online MSC training that was supported by online peer groups had high attendance rates, high assessment completion, and favorable results. These preliminary outcomes suggest that future studies with more rigorous designs are warranted to further investigate online training with peer support as an effective and efficient approach to disseminate MSC training in China.